 Glenn McCrory revealed today that his old foe Lennox Lewis had actually quit the ring over financial disputes but called it "the right decision." McCrory, the North East's only ever world champion, has had links with Lewis throughout his career both as a fighter and commentator. An up-and-coming Lennox performed on the undercard at one of McCrory's title fights in Gateshead, the two then fought for the British and European heavyweight titles at the Royal Albert Hall, and Lewis became a close pal of McCrory - the pair of them partying at Lennox's Miami home - when Glenn was covering his fights for Sky television. "I've got to know Lennox well down the years and I'm delighted he decided to retire when still world champion," said Glenn. "He's been a great Briton and deserves his place among the all-time greats of the ring." However, McCrory added: "Lennox's departure was actually hurried by financial disputes. Vitali Klitschko is involved in legal proceedings with his management and Lewis took the unusual step of phoning him personally to see if it could all be sorted out. "On top of that, HBO offered Lennox only £5 million for the return fight and he wanted £20 million. If the cash could have been sorted on both sides Lennox wouldn't have retired but I'm glad he did. It was the perfect decision. At 38 years of age it was the right time." Referring to their friendship, Glenn said: "North East fight fans will remember Lennox fighting at Gateshead when I was top of the bill. Inevitably, Lewis won in double quick time. "I should never have fought him as a heavyweight because I wasn't bulky enough and I'd retired having been a world champion but the tax man was after me and it was the only way I could make enough money. I bit the canvas right enough! "I went over to America and was ringside at all his great title fights against Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and the like. I saw him a lot and when I bumped into him in a nightclub we had a helluva night and went back to his pad to chill out. "The man is a legend but what prevents him really being in the top five of all time is that he was never Mr Excitement. Lennox was a chess player who never gambled in the ring and, even though reversing both decisions, he was nevertheless knocked out by two journeymen - Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman." | 
